The 39-year-old Spencer is on the lookout for a new job after quitting South Africa's Eastern Province Kings, the apparently financially troubled franchise which returns to the expanded Super Rugby competition next season. Spencer says the Kings owe him substantial wages.
His shock departure from the Kings, revealed today, has cast a further spotlight on issues facing the expanded Super Rugby competition.
And it can also be revealed that Spencer did not receive a reply from the Blues, when he approached them.
The brilliant former All Black first five-eighths was so keen on a return home and disappointed in the way the Blues were performing that he approached the Auckland-based franchise about an assistant's role earlier this year, when John Kirwan was still in charge. Spencer thought he could help restore the Blues by taking up a role as a backs/attack/skills coach and formally registered his interest with CEO Michael Redman in May.
His Auckland lawyer David Jones strongly rejected reports claiming Spencer had paid the price for poor results with the Kings. Jones told the New Zealand Herald Spencer had terminated the contract last Wednesday because of longstanding problems with his wages being paid. He had also engaged a South African law firm to sort the matter out.
"It's been happening since before Christmas last year - there comes a time when you've had enough," said Jones.
"At some point you have to lance the boil. He is owed a substantial amount of money and has had to constantly chase them for arrears. The players are in the same position.
"Cheeky Watson (EP rugby president) made a promise last Wednesday the players would be paid and they weren't. There has been a series of broken promises.
"Carlos didn't want to terminate until he had a replacement job, but he reached the end of his tether.
"I know he would love to come back to New Zealand. It is his favoured option. And he really wants to help restore the Blues credibility although I don't think there is a suitable assistant coaching role available now with Tana Umaga there."
Jones said Spencer had initiated reverting to a more "hands on" role with the Kings two months ago and felt "defamed" by negative inferences that they had pushed him out of the head coaching job.
In his application to the Blues, Spencer - among the most gifted footballers ever in New Zealand rugby - wrote: "I believe my long history with the Blues along with my coaching experience gives me the right pedigree. I know what it takes to pull a group of individuals together and get the most out of them." But he didn't receive a reply, according to Jones.
Spencer played for the Johannesburg-based Lions and held coaching roles with them and the Sharks before joining Eastern Province - an area noted for the involvement of black and coloured players - in 2013. He coached their fledgling Currie Cup side and was appointed head coach of the Kings in February, then shifted to an attack/skills role under Brent Janse van Rensburg.
The Kings were admitted to the 2013 Super Rugby competition in place of the Lions.
